Intercourse, by: Andrea Dworkin - Feminish

this same Robert that I must go into France. This Robert twicerefused and repulsed me. 9She virtually laid siege to him twice, for prolonged periods oftime; and eventually he sent her to the king escorted by men-atarms.He gave her a sword, and the people of Vaucouleurs gaveher money for a horse and equipment. She had arrived in Vaucouleurswearing a red peasant dress made out of a coarse material;she left dressed like a man, never to dress of her own freewill like a woman again. At her trial, tormented on the issue ofher male dress, she would not capitulate. It was, she said,but a small matter; and that she had not taken it by the advice ofany living man; and that she did not take this dress nor do anythingat all save by the command of Our Lord and the angels. 10According to the stories of the time, Joan entered the king’sroom, which was crowded with men dressed finer and lookingmore royal than the king; but Joan knew him and addressedhim immediately as her sovereign: “she made bows and reverenceswhich it is customary to make to kings, just as if she hadbeen brought up at court all her life. ” 11 He then denied that hewas king and pointed to another man: “To which she answered:'It is you who are king, and no other; I know youwell. ’” 12She then told the king that she would end the siege ofOrleans and have him crowned at Rheims.The king had her examined by clergy, theologians, andscholars as to her faith. She was physically examined by womento ascertain that she was, as she claimed, a virgin. It was a commonbelief that the devil could not make a pact with a virgin;and so virginity would put Joan on God’s side, making it lawful